The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh announced Tuesday it is offering eligible faculty and staff a voluntary retirement buyout with a one-time payment equal to 50% of an employee's annual base salary.

UW-Oshkosh becomes the third campus within the UW System to offer buyouts in an effort to reduce its workforce in the face of state budget cuts. UW-Eau Claire was the first, followed last week by UW-Superior.

UW-Oshkosh expects about 100 employees would be eligible. It has set a goal of reducing its workforce by 80 within the next three years.(119)

Packers' actions point to a big emphasis on defense

Green Bay - Remember when the idea was floating around that the Packers were looking to get smaller, quicker guys on their defensive line and coach Mike McCarthy scoffed at it at the scouting combine?

Well, McCarthy wasn't lying when he said, "We’re definitely not going to be smaller."

Actions speak louder than words and the Packers have backed up McCarthy's - albeit not very aggressively -- with the type of player they've been looking into during the first week of free agency.

The newest prospect is 6-4, 303-pound Minnesota defensive tackle Letroy Guion. According to the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Guion has received interest from the Packers, New England and Baltimore and is tentatively set to visit the Packers on Sunday.

Guion started 13 games for the Vikings last year and had 21 tackles and one sack. He is 26 years old and was scheduled to make $4 million this year before being cut March 6.

Granted, the Packers are mostly checking price tags and little else, but most of the guys they have been looking into are big defensive linemen. Most are 3-4 types who can play either spot in the base defense, but they made one interesting inquiry into a 4-3 end this week.

Since they so seldomly sign free agents, it could be a glimpse of what they're looking for in the draft more than anything.

Former New York Giants defensive lineman Justin Tuck said on the Dan Patrick Show that if he hadn't signed with the Oakland Raiders, his backup plan was to follow through on interest from three other teams, one of which was the Packers.

"Green Bay was in the mix, Washington was in the mix," Tuck said. "I felt comfortable with what Oakland was doing. That scheme is very similar to what we did with the Giants."

The Packers' scheme isn't, but McCarthy has hinted that the changes he expects on defense will include the use of 270-pound guys like Mike Neal and Nick Perry with their hand down. At 6-5, 268 pounds, Tuck would be very similar to those two and would have the ability to slide inside in nickel situations and be an effective pass rusher.

Whether he could line up and play the base end position would depend on how Dom Capers plans to set up the defense. Tuck is extremely strong and the thought might have been that he could handle it on a limited basis.

The agent for 6-3, 305-pound Vance Walker indicated there was interest from the Packers but that he could not confirm a visit was in the works. Walker visited Kansas City Thursday and is head to Seattle Sunday.

As you look at that group, it's clear the Packers are both fishing around for a big guy in the event B.J. Raji decides to sign somewhere else. But they also seem to be casting their line for another big body for a defensive line that right now features 6-foot, 291-pound Mike Daniels, 6-3, 310-pound Josh Boyd, 6-4, 285-pound Datone Jones and 6-2, 308-pound Jerel Worthy.

Prior to free agency, an NFL source said that the Packers were looking for more guys like Datone Jones, tall, athletic and big enough to mix it up at the line of scrimmage. Tuck definitely fits that body type and would have made an interesting bookend with Jones.

One player you have to wonder whether the Packers will consider is Chicago's Julius Peppers. Despite being 34, he's still an athletic freak at 6-7, 287 pounds, and would fit nicely into the defense McCarthy envisions.

There are a lot of questions with Peppers, such as whether he's chasing a ring or a pay check, he and defensive line coach Mike Trgovac left on good terms when both were in Carolina and the Packers are satisfied he goes hard on enough downs to satisfy them. But from a physical standpoint, he could add a lot to the Packers' defense.

So far, there has been no indication the two sides are going to talk. The Packers' priority is getting Raji signed and that is taking longer than many expected.

About Tom Silverstein

Tom Silverstein is in his 25th year covering the Green Bay Packers and 30th year with the Journal Sentinel. He is a two-time Wisconsin Sportswriter of the Year award winner.